Murray Kinsella reports from Hamilton
PETER O’MAHONY IS set to be named the Lions’ Test captain tomorrow and his Munster, Ireland and Lions team-mate CJ Stander is backing the blindside flanker to do the tourists proud.
O’Mahony led the Lions in last weekend’s warm-up win over the Māori All Blacks and he is now expected to be confirmed as the captain for the first Test against the All Blacks in Eden Park on Saturday.
Confirmation of his appointment would cap a truly remarkable rise for O’Mahony, who only started the final game of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign against England after Jamie Heaslip was injured during the warm-up.
O’Mahony was outstanding that day and following an excellent season with Munster – having returned from a year out of the game due to a ruptured ACL – the Cork native was selected to tour with the Lions.
He was superb against the Crusaders two weekends ago and after leading the Lions last Saturday, he is now set to follow in the footsteps of the likes of fellow Irishmen Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell and captain the Lions in a Test game.
“I think he’s a great leader,” said Stander after the Lions’ 34-6 win over the Chiefs. “He’s my captain at Munster and he works hard for the team. He’s a good leader and he shows it. His heart is on his sleeve and I don’t think there’s an awful lot of leaders like him.
“He shows it on the pitch and he shows it in his aggression. He’s a great captain and we all know that, and I think he’ll make us proud.”
Welshman Sam Warburton is the Lions’ tour captain but is expected to miss out on making the Lions’ starting Test XV having struggled with an ankle injury, while Alun Wyn Jones – another former Lions Test skipper – could miss out on selection in the second row to Maro Itoje and George Kruis.
Having earned the respect of his Lions team-mates and head coach Warren Gatland, O’Mahony would be a popular appointment as Test captain.
Importantly, the Lions have other leaders within their team, with the likes of Owen Farrell, Conor Murray, Sean O’Brien and Kruis among the influential figures.
That would make life easier for O’Mahony, but Stander believes his Munster team-mate is ready for the overall responsibility.
“I think there are a lot of leaders in the group and everybody helps each other and pushes each other on,” said Stander. “There’s four or five voices in the squad.
“Hopefully this weekend we’ll see how the squad pushes him on. I think he’s ready to step up. He doesn’t even have to step up – he’s ready to do it.”
Warren Gatland will confirm his captain and starting XV for the first Test at 8pm Irish time on Wednesday.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Good on you Peter North East West South of the island is very proud of you!!!
Peter North?
@Septic Head: No, it’s George North and Peter O’Mahony. Keep up.
@Septic Head: wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more
@Septic Head: ah cum on now
You keep it up.
@Septic Head: I will give you that one.
@Dave O Keeffe: Peter north the o**n star
@Septic Head: who’s watching the dirty stuff,when the old dolls out? Devil
@Showbiz Babyyy: good 1
@Septic Head: one in the eye for the begrudgers.
What an absolute legend….what a year for him
A warrior on the pitch an absolute gentleman off the pitch. Possible captain of the lions , leader of munster and 2nd choice for his country. Why joe why??
@chris barrett: what a misinformed
question :-[
@pat conway: I’m not actually sure a question can be ‘misinformed’….
@chris barrett: “An absolute Gentleman” complete bollox, a very good friend of mine, who is a huge munster supporter and known by many of the team, was sitting in a pub one day when Peter was there with other team mates, she was looking at her phone and that pric# thought she was taking a picture of him, she was not and he litterally gave her a bollocking and was shouting at her in the middle of the pub, she was nearly in tears, he is anything but a gentleman.
@Scott Robins: happened me quite a few times too people just think my face is way too beautiful
@Scott Robins: we all have off days,,and your friend? might have been invasive,,,had she a few scoops?
@chris barrett: Jesus, lads. Can we not just come together and support the lad as a nation? Joe rates POM as highly as any of us. He was returning from injury during the 6N and CJ did nothing to warrant being dropped. The guy is far from second choice.
@Scott Robins: “known by many of the team” so what you’re saying is your friend is probably a slapper…
@Martin Quinn: it’s a joke, get over yourself
@David: it wasnt funny
Go boy,go.
Rowers,soccer,hurling,and rugby,rebels all over the gaff
@billy Dorney:
Not Rebels, tools of Empire who play a colonial game and accept British Empire awards a la Rory Best O B E.!
Surely captain for Ireland come November?
@Fiachra Ahern Esq: don’t be daft, he will be back on the bench in favour of some blue magoo
@Ruairi O’Bric: POC and best have been the Irish captains since joe took over but don’t let the truth spoil your pathetic bias
@Fiachra Ahern Esq: deserves a lash off it
@Chris Mcdonnell: I could swear that neither best nor oconnell are / were backrows?
@Evan Geoghegan: this is embarrassing… neither of them are / were Leinster players. Amazing you couldn’t work that out tbh…
What a sad bitter,twisted plonker you are Ruairi.You obviously know your rugby.Joe Schmidt sole purpose in life is to pick Leinster players for Ireland,ahead of more deserving Munster players!!
@Paul K Murphy: Exactly – and Kidney did the exact same thing in reverse, just picking Munster players because he was friendly with them and never cared if Ireland won a game.
Well either that or Schmidt & Kidney were making tough decisions based on having far more information and understanding of rugby that the average idiot on here. That probably couldn’t be it though.
A natural leader of men on the sports field.
Im so happy for him, well done Peter. Next Irish captain also. Joe are you watching
Why on earth was warburton brought let alone tour captain. Good on o Mahoney getting what he deserves. Natural born leader filling Paulies boots just fine so he is.
@Aidan Rainsford: keep it Munster
Great news that an Irishman is set to lead the Lions. Fair play to POM.
Brings a lot to the team but only made 1 tackle last weekend, needs to up that this weekend to become a Lions legend and lead the team to victory over the All Blacks.
So glad Warburton is not going to start. He should be way down the pecking order of back row players on tour based on form.
Should be Earlsy
If it comes to be, I’ll be a very proud Munster man as I always am.
@Dave Barry:
Not Munster Dave, #Munsterrugby. Colonial nonsense.
Peter is a class act, a fearless warrior and an inspirational leader
Superb choice. Go Lions.
No better man. Captain of Ireland in waiting.
Let’s hope the Lions play well.
@Lapmo Dancer:
Oh no we don’t!
Absolute gent on and off the pitch
Embarrassed more like it! Just another Tool of Empire.